I beleive a big part of it would be your image at the table and how is the over all table. Is it loose, tight, what type of player is acting after you. I llike to see cheap flops with low pockets, hoping to hit the trips, or if the board is unkind I can get out of the hand

#3

12th June 2009, 5:36 PM

Smileyphil [53]

I will play them from all positions. If I am first in I will open raise. If there is a limper or another raiser I will call if I have set odds (1 in 20).

The only times I will fold them preflop are if a) I haven't got set odds. b) There is a very loose opponent to act behind who I think will raise and ruin my set odds.

Just for the record I also play 99 in this manner. And occasionally TT. I often fold if I don't make my set. Sometimes cbetting if I can but usually not.

#4

12th June 2009, 6:53 PM

MainEventOrBust [86]

Online Poker at: Bodog

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by telboy

In a no limit cash game what positions would with a pocket pairs 88 - 22

In a cash game it only makes sense to play them if you think you can get the 7.5 to 1 that you need to make hitting a set on the flop profitable. If there are a lot of limpers in front, this is good, since a raise behind you is less likely from a sub-par hand, and its more likely that someone will catch a piece of the flop with you, and pay you off. If you are in early position, and limp, you are likely to never see the flop when a late position player raises enough for you to no longer have those 7.5 to 1 odds you need out of his stack to pay you off. Worse if you open with your small PP and get popped for a raise, your implied odds are probably even worse.

#5

12th June 2009, 7:15 PM

absoluthamm [5,689]

Poker at: Secret Now..

Game: HE, Om, St

55-22 in early position, almost never unless I'm at a tight table and I don't think there will be much action behind me, maybe one/two more limpers... 88-66 I might flat call depending on how aggressive the table is, the more aggressive, the less likely to call.

The closer that I get to the button, the more likely I am to call or open raise with very few or no limpers behind me. The ideal situation is to have just the blinds call and then hit the set or bet out on a scary board(high cards) and see if they budge. Many times the blinds will call either to defend or because of the odds they're getting. If they fight back, chances are I will fold.

#6

13th June 2009, 4:29 PM

DEdwardsNJ [233]

Online Poker at: Lock Poker

Game: NLHE

re: Poker & pocket pairs

Very table dependent. If the table is passive, then you can limp with 22-88 in any position hoping to hit a set, but if its an aggressive table, you pretty much have to fold them in early position as you will get raised and playing them out of position in a raised pot is not what you want. I also like to bring them in for a raise occasionally at less aggressive tables as it helps disguise your big hands.

#7

18th June 2009, 5:08 AM

RichKo [634]

Poker at: FT, UB

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by danchiill

call and try to hit trips on the flop

just so ya know...

trips = pair on the board, card in hand
set = pair in your hand, card on board

so with a pocket pair, you would be looking to hit a set, not trips.

#8

18th June 2009, 6:29 PM

absoluthamm [5,689]

Online Poker at: Secret Now..

Game: HE, Om, St

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichKo

just so ya know...

trips = pair on the board, card in hand
set = pair in your hand, card on board

so with a pocket pair, you would be looking to hit a set, not trips.

+1 for terminology

#9

24th June 2009, 9:33 PM

james.g12 [15]

Poker at: fulltilt

Game: holdem

if u hit your trips those would be decent hands..but b4 the flp thatd be like mid position hands, but id have to say if i was in your position id be min betting b4 the flop juss in case u do hit your set, but then again i'd be wiery with both these hands

#10

24th June 2009, 10:28 PM

jdeliverer [1,391]

Online Poker at: FTP

Game: NLHE now

Actually trips can just mean three of a kind, so a set can also be called trips. Just not the other way around.

Note: this does vary according to different people's definitions, but it goes both ways.

#11

24th June 2009, 10:57 PM

crow27 [307]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: NL

I'll call in any pos., then decide to play or not depending on raise size, players calling the raise, position, and what kind (if any) reads I have on the players in the hand.

#12

24th June 2009, 11:59 PM

langrealtor [24]

Online Poker at: Full Tilt

Game: holdem

re: Poker & pocket pairs

I'll usually call and see the flop. Depending on the cards, chance for a floush, straight, if I get trips will determine my next move.

#13

25th June 2009, 12:09 AM

Jayson745 [74]

Poker at: bodog

Game: its ALL good

I think this is one of those questions that have to many variables for a straight out answer. Ring games or tournaments, size of blinds, loose or tight table coupled with position(to judge your odds of being raised if you limp).

I will say that big blinds at the final table with 3-4 of you left might warrant a raise to just try and take the blinds, while a full ring game in late position with limpers would warrant a simple call and see approach. Basically there is no answer without knowing the situation.

#14

25th June 2009, 12:33 AM

damon789 [287]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

agreed

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesdadeliverer

Actually trips can just mean three of a kind, so a set can also be called trips. Just not the other way around.

Note: this does vary according to different people's definitions, but it goes both ways.

It's a slight difference but same hand. If ive got a pocket pair im always trying

to flop a set rarther than trips tho.... i mean 3 of a kind......i mean a pair with

another matching card..... of fuggetaboutit already

#15

29th June 2009, 4:15 AM

ct82 [14]

Poker at: Full Tilt

On a weak table I'll always play them, especially if its loose and there is not a lot of raising. But if there are players behind me who are good and like to raise I'll dump the small ones in EP, and loosen up as my pos is better.

#16

29th June 2009, 10:21 PM

ImolAyrton [183]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: PLO

I would only play pocket pairs under 66 if everybody folded to you in LP and you can raise it.. 66+ I would just call after a raise

#17

30th June 2009, 8:37 AM

Jeikeiem [9]

In cash game, if you're the first one in the pot, you should raise it, especially if you have open-raised much before. It's easy to put someone on a low pair or low suited connector if you only limp when raised much before. Then if you get a caller you you see what the flop brings, if you miss you throw in a 2/3 pot c-bet if the board is safe.

If you get reraised pre-flop out of position and you aren't getting the right odds, just throw it away.

#18

2nd July 2009, 6:21 AM

Theblueduce [430]

Online Poker at: Where I win

Game: Hold EM

re: Poker & pocket pairs

Usually will fold the small pair in early/mid position. If in late position, 1st in, and a tight table ? I condsider a positional raise.....Will play 88-AA any position

#19

2nd July 2009, 6:24 AM

kidkvno1 [12,513]

Poker at: PS play cash

Game: holdem

in MTTs, Sit&gos i am value betting the hand, folding to a raise.
In ring games, i am limping in, going for a set...

If i find a tight table, i may do a mid raise well on the button. It all depends on the table, if it's loose i limp, if it's tight i raise, well in position....

I would watch on calling any raise, well holding low PP.

#20

2nd July 2009, 4:41 PM

Stu_Ungar [6,237]

Game: NL Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by damon789

It's a slight difference but same hand. If ive got a pocket pair im always trying

to flop a set rarther than trips tho.... i mean 3 of a kind......i mean a pair with

another matching card..... of fuggetaboutit already

There is a big difference in the way the two hands play.

A set is very powerful

Trips often get out kickered or open the board up to a FH

A set is a big hand, trips is a much smaller hand.

#21

3rd July 2009, 3:49 AM

RA2000 [284]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: holdem

Depends on many points: Your image, the table - is it loose or tight, the image of the other players, your chip stack and of course your position...

#22

3rd July 2009, 6:02 AM

MainEventOrBust [86]

Online Poker at: Bodog

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by telboy

In a no limit cash game what positions would with a pocket pairs 88 - 22

As others mentioned, there is no standard recipe. Factors to consider include:
-Who is left to act behind--are you going to get raised / reraised if you open?
-Do your opponents have hands/stacks to pay you off the 7-1 odds you need to justify set-mining?
-Are you likely to pick up the blinds with a small raise, and use your PP to defend if someone plays back at you?
-Has the table been acting completely passive, and unlikely to raise if you limp in from early position? (i.e. are there usually 4-6 players to each flop with no raises?)

My only rule of thumb to play PP is if I'm on the button or in the cut-off; the pot still hasn't been opened; and there are no hyper-aggressive maniacs ready to act behind me. If that is the case, I'll open the pot with a standard raise, and be prepared to surrender them at the first sign of aggression if I don't improve.

Good Luck.

#23

3rd July 2009, 6:04 AM

MainEventOrBust [86]

Poker at: Bodog

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by langrealtor

Bet on 4 low pairs today and lost every one. Hit trips twice and got beat by higher trips and a straight. Other two lost to higher pairs.

Results based analysis for the win.

I had AA cracked 3 times in a row one day, should I have stopped playing them?

In a no limit cash game what positions would with a pocket pairs 88 - 22

It was stated in the first post

#26

7th July 2009, 5:09 PM

ludo90 [286]

Online Poker at: Full Tilt

Game: Omaha

i would play them as i think is the proper way to play them.
88 i would play strong as if i have a good hand , which i do and 99% of the time raise PF.

pocket dueces i would try to keep it small pf since they are not favourite against many hands. and if i hit a set i would wave home the money trapping my opponent Phil Ivey style

#27

7th July 2009, 9:22 PM

suiKAted [16]

Poker at: Full Tilt

Game: holdem

To take a good hand you need to see the flop because of this I recommend you play in this way:
To play cash game with pockets pair 22-88 you need to play against limpers.
If you are playing in an agressive table, you have to fold with this cards.